Cannabis Seed Bank

Top Tips for Successful Cannabis Germination

Successful Cannabis Germination, germination is the process of a new plant growing from a sprouted seed. It is the first step you must take when starting your new cannabis garden. Cannabis seeds can vary enormously so good genetics is a very important starting point. We recommend looking at reputable seed banks to get your supply. When buying seeds, make sure they are matured with a dark brown appearance and a firm feel. Once you have your new babies, make plenty of space for them to grow and thrive. Learning how to germinate cannabis seeds correctly is crucial if you wish to enjoy years of healthy plants and fruitful harvests. In this guide, we outline the ideal germination conditions and show you five different methods.

Water

Be careful not to over-soak your seeds. Hard seeds should be soaked for a maximum of 32 hours, although 24 hours is usually ideal. Cannabis seeds begin to sprout when they receive the two signals of water and heat. Once these conditions are met, the taproot starts breaking through the shell of the seed.

If the root breaks through the shell and there is no water, the seedling will die. You have to ensure the roots are kept moist once the seed sprouts so make sure there is moisture at all times.

Heat

This is arguably the trickiest factor of germination. You have to strike a balance between “warm” and “hot”. Spring temperatures are ideal in a “regular” climate. While cannabis seeds can germinate in colder weather, the process takes longer. Seedlings also germinate faster when there is plenty of humidity in the air. If you are worried about low temperatures, invest in a couple of incandescent bulbs and place them over the seedling germination area.

Care

Firstly and most importantly, seeds perform at their best when they are left alone! When you check them for the taproot you must handle with care! Try to avoid touching the white taproot because it can easily break off.

Planting

Germinated seeds don’t have to be planted too deep in the soil, or whatever growing medium you choose. 1-1.5cm below the surface is plenty, and you should point the white root downwards into the earth to ensure the seedling is in its ideal position.

Are your Seeds good or Bad?

Always opt for dark cannabis seeds as they are the most likely to germinate as long as they are kept in the right conditions. White or pale-green seeds have little or no chance of growing.

You may have heard the “best” method for checking good quality cannabis seeds. Apparently, if you can crush seeds between your fingers, they are ‘bad.’ First off, they won’t be good seeds anymore because you have just destroyed them! Secondly, experienced growers know that even flimsy seeds can germinate when exposed to the right conditions.

How to Germinate Marijuana Seeds – 5 Methods

1) The Paper Towel Method

This is the easiest method and requires some cannabis seeds, paper towels, and two clean plates. Choose cheap paper towels because they are non-porous. This means you can lay seeds and roots on the surface and not worry about them getting stuck. If you use low-quality paper towels or toilet paper, the roots will grow into them!

It is a simple method, but also a risky one. You could damage the taproot while moving the sprouted seeds or the paper could dry out and kill the seeds.

Here is the process:

Use up to four sheets of the paper towel and soak it in distilled water. While the sheet must be soaked, make sure there is no water dripping off them. Place two of the paper sheets on one of the plates and lay the seeds down at least 1.5cm away from one another. Cover with the other two paper towel sheets.

Cover the seeds with the second plate to ensure the moisture is locked in. Make sure you check the seeds often to see if they have sprouted or if it happens to dry out a little. Please ensure that the seeds are kept in a room where the temperature is between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius.

Now you must wait! Seeds typically sprout within 1-4 days, although older seeds often take up to a week. When checking the seeds, make sure the sheets are saturated. If they are drying out, add more water.

You will know that germination has occurred because the seed will split and a little root appears out of it. Make sure you don’t touch the taproot when it sprouts or during the planting process.

2) Direct Planting

In nature, a cannabis seed will sprout in the soil and emerge with its taproot growing into the earth. So obviously, you can plant cannabis seeds straight into your growing medium of choice. The main benefit here is that you don’t have to worry about “stunning” the seedling while planting it.

Your seedling should instantly adjust to the new environment and grow. When using this method, dig a small hole about 1.5cm deep in soil that is moist but not saturated. Keep things warm with a heating pad or small light.

3) Starter Cubes and Seedling Plugs

This has been claimed as the easiest germination method of all. It is effectively a foolproof method because all you have to do is place the seed into the cube/plug and add water. Assuming you put the seeds in a room with the right temperature, germination should occur on its own within a few days. Starter cubes even come with a pre-made hole for the seeds. Basically, place seed, add water, grow.

The main downside with this germination method is that such plugs are generally available in packs of 50. Therefore, if you only plan on planting a few cannabis seeds, you will waste most of the plugs because they dry out in about a week.

You can also use rock-wool cubes as they are cheap and easy to find. However, they are a terrible hazard to the environment, bad for your health, have a high pH (which means you must rinse them first). They also offer a low cloning and germination success rate.

4) Overnight Soaking

This IS the easiest method as it involves nothing more than placing the seeds in a glass of lukewarm water overnight. It is a good idea if you’re using old and hard seeds because the soaking process can give them a burst of new life. When you place the seeds in water, they float for a few hours before sinking to the bottom of the container.

If you use a see-through container such as glass, you get to see the white taproot break out! However, you shouldn’t leave seeds soaking in water for more than 32 hours. Otherwise, seeds that haven’t sprouted yet will drown. If the seeds haven’t sprouted by the 32-hour mark, put them in a warm and moist place to complete the germination process. You should probably use the paper towel method at this point.

5) A Germination Station

You can purchase a readymade version from online stores. A DIY station is made by placing a plastic dome over a plate which you then add onto a heating pad. Professionally made stations are relatively cheap and work rather well. With most of these kits, all you have to do is choose your growing media and plugs to start growing.

Transplanting Germinated Cannabis Seeds

There is absolutely no room for any delay when your cannabis seeds have begun to sprout. Now is the time to transfer the seed to its growing medium. Most growers prefer to use small pots, to begin with. Make sure you fill enough pots with loose potting soil and use a pencil to poke a hole around 1-1.5cm deep. Remember, you could break the taproot very easily. So please be careful when transferring them. Use tweezers and drop the seed into the hole with the root facing down. Finally, cover it with a thin layer of soil.

For the first few days, use a spray bottle to water the seeds, because adding too much water can drown them. It is worth investing in a pH meter to test the soil regularly and make sure it has enough moisture. If all goes well, the seed should sprout from the soil within a week. If it hasn’t sprouted within ten days, it will most likely die.

Turn on your grow light once the seeds have been planted. The heat improves germination rates and speeds up the process of the seedlings opening their first set of leaves. As in nature, some will fail while others will flourish. You will have seeds that pop fast but don’t be disappointed if you have a few failures because that’s part and parcel of the growing process. Even when you get everything right, you will inevitably lose a few seeds, and it won’t be your fault!

NEWSLETTER

DISCLAIMER

The Site is intended for persons eighteen (18) years or older. Persons under the age of eighteen (18) should not access, use and/or browse the Site. Medical Cannabis Seedbank is not responsible for the misuse or illegal use, according to the law of each country.

NEWSLETTER

Don't miss your chance to be informed about any new strains, discounts etc